134 
apis), and the disease is spread by the distribution of its 
spores among unaffected bees. The disease is primarily 
one of the digestive system, and aftected Bees are, as a 
rule, unable to fly more than a few yards without alight- 
ing. As the disease progresses the Bees can only fly a 
few feet from the hive, and then drop and craw! aimlessly 
over the ground. They may often be seen crawling up 
grass stems or up the supports of the hive. Diseased 
Bees frequently lose their power of flight, their abdomens 
become greatly distended, and often the wings are “ out 
of joint,” the hind wings protruding upwards and outside 
the anterior pair. In bad attacks large numbers of 
diseased Bees are to be found clustered together within 
the hive, or on the alighting board and ground. Some- 
times the symptoms resemble those of “ Bee paralysis” or 
of ‘‘dysentry,” but nevertheless the disease is quite dis- 
tinct from either of these complaints. The spores of the 
disease are spread in various ways; thus water near the 
hives becomes infected with Bee excrement, containing 
the spores, which are liable to be imbibed by the next 
Bee which visits the same spot. Honey, pollen and wax 
also become infected with the spores in a similar manner, 
and are very fertile sources for spreading the disease. 
Infection from one hive or apiary to another can be 
effected by the sale of diseased swarms, by the robbing 
of a diseased colony by healthy Bees, and by swarms 
occupying hives which were formerly infected. Bad 
weather also encourages the spread of the complaint, as 
the bees do not then take cleansing flights. There is 
evidence to indicate that partial immunity of stocks 
happens. Such stocks, however, might be hard to recog- 
nise, and at the same time would act as sources of infec- 
tion for susceptable colonies. As regards measures 
against the disease, healthy stocks should be removed 
from the neighbourhood of diseased hives. Clean water 
should be readily accessible, changed daily and protected 
from contamination. The usual drinking places should, 
if possible, be done away with. All dead Bees should 
be ‘burnt and diseased colonies, including the queens, 
destroyed. The ground around the hives should be dug 
over and treated with quicklime. Infected hives and all 
utensils should be charred inside and out with a painter’s 
lamp. In place of charring a very thorough application 
of tania or carbolic acid may be used, and the hives 
